The Town FilesGretna, Virginia
Town in Pittsylvania County · population 1,310 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,800
- Household income
- $33,698
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 47.8
Gretna is a town of 1,310 people in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The median home is worth $138,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Virginia towns, hipper than 91% of Virginia towns.
How Gretna ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gretna is worth $138,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $33,698, which is more affordable than 37% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gretna | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $683 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $33,698 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Gretna
| People | Gretna | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 42.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 65.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Gretna
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.2°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1977 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Pittsylvania County since 1996
Pittsylvania County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County had 12,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,651 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Gretna itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Gretna
4 public schools with 1,532 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gretna High | 9-12 | 539 | 14.2 |
| Gretna Elementary | PK-5 | 453 | 13.3 |
| Gretna Middle | 6-8 | 398 | 11.4 |
| Mount Airy Elementary | PK-5 | 142 | 9.5 |
Towns near Gretna
- Motley, VA8.1 mi · 825 people · home $146,900
- Chatham, VA9.7 mi · 1,232 people · home $174,300
- Hurt, VA10.7 mi · 1,267 people · home $150,600
- Altavista, VA12.8 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Penhook, VA15.5 mi · 782 people · home $543,000
- Blairs, VA17.3 mi · 841 people · home $158,700
- Union Hall, VA18.3 mi · 1,328 people · home $694,100
- North Shore, VA18.3 mi · 3,332 people · home $504,400
Gretna questions
Is Gretna, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gretna scores better for retirees than 93% of Virginia towns and quieter than 83%. 33.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Gretna?
The median owner-occupied home in Gretna is valued at $138,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,698, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Gretna?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 24.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does Gretna get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1977. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)